Rwanda issues fresh travel advisory after Ebola outbreak in Uganda

Ministry of health confirmed Ebola outbreak in Kasese District in western Uganda. (PHOTO/PML)

KIGALI/KAMPALA – Rwanda’s health ministry on Wednesday issued a fresh Ebola alert following an outbreak of the disease in neighboring Uganda.

Uganda on Tuesday announced that Ebola had broken out in the country after tests from a five year old boy in Kasese district neighboring Ebola-hit eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo turned positive.

Rwanda’s government says it is tightening border surveillance after the deadly Ebola outbreak crossed the frontier from eastern Congo into Uganda.

Rwanda borders both countries.

The state-backed newspaper The New Times cites Rwanda’s health ministry in urging people not to travel to areas affected by the Ebola outbreak.

“Rwandan residents and visitors should seek timely medical attention at the nearest health facility whenever a person experiences Ebola-like symptoms such as high fever, bleeding, diarrhea and red eyes among others,” the ministry said in a statement.

Rwanda’s preventive measures against Ebola remains in place including conducting community awareness on the disease, screening of travellers entering Rwanda as well as capacity building for case detection and control, it said.

It further called on public transport companies and hoteliers to help enforce preventive measures and local leaders and community health workers to sensitize residents to be vigilant and avoid visiting places where the disease has been reported.

The World Health Organization has advised against travel restrictions.

Rwanda earlier this year announced it would give front-line health workers an experimental but effective Ebola vaccine as concerns rose about cross-border spread of the highly contagious virus.

Nearly 1,400 people have died in this outbreak, including a 5-year-old boy in Uganda.